2026 NBA Playoffs: Thunder vs. Lakers Game 3 Best Bets, Player Props & Prediction (May 9)

Showtime is on tonight in La-La Land, as the Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles for Game 3 of their playoff series.

The Thunder have defeated the Lakers six times in six meetings since the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. The average winning margin has been 27 points. These two teams are both wearing shorts and sneakers, but they aren't really playing the same game. OKC is varsity, and the LA Lakers are JV.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

But just because the final outcome of a game may be fait accompli, doesn't mean we don't have opportunities for NBA playoffs betting. The sports betting apps have dozens of markets for each game.

Last time we met here online for Lakers/Thunder betting picks, I submitted my betting slip for Thunder -18.5 in Game 2. And wouldn't you know it, a last-seconds layup in garbage time by the Lakers made the final margin OKC +18. Ouch.

But I'm not deterred. I was flummoxed but not finished. I'll make a parlay and two player props for Game 3. Odds are from BetMGM and the Bet365 sports betting app.

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Thunder vs. Lakers Game 3 Same-Game Parlay Bets:

It's Game 3, so let's craft a three-leg parlay using odds from Bet365*

• LeBron James To Score 25+ points (+135)
• Chet Holmgren To Record 10+ Rebounds (+125)
• Isaiah Joe To Make 2+ 3-Pointers (+182)

Odds are +1391. That means a winning $10 bet will pay $139.10, or bet $100 and win a whopping $1,391 if you hit all three legs for OKC vs LA.

Facing a 3-0 hole, I expect LeBron James to turn back the clock and make the most of his time on the floor in front of the LA crowd. If he hits a few 3-pointers, the 25-point threshold should not be a problem as King James carries much of the offensive load for the Lakers.

Thunder thin man Chet Holmgren is averaging 10.5 boards in this series. His season average was 8.9, but he's had his way so far against the non-physical Lakers.

Lastly, Isaiah Joe is due for a scoring surge from behind the 3-point line. Joe led the Thunder in 3-point attempts (6 per game) and makes (2.5 per game). He's been playing about 10 minutes in each of the games in this series. Joe shot 42.3% from 3-point range on the regular season. He's 1-for-4 in this series. I expect that on the road, head coach Mark Daigneault will let him loose. All we need are two makes to win the third leg of our NBA Playoffs parlay.

*Bet365 typically offers deeper odds markets for player props like 3-point shot made, P+RA+A (points plus rebounds plus assists). Which makes it a great choice for building a custom parlay.

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Game 3 Player Prop Bets: SGA & Austin Reaves

Two player prop picks round out my betting slip for Game 3. Odds are from BetMGM.

• Austin Reaves To Make 3+ 3-Pointers (+155)

In the regular season, Austin Reaves averaged just over 6 3-point attempts per game. He's launched 11 in the two games against the Thunder, making three. Late in Game 2, Reaves led an effort to lobby the officials for a closer examination of the defensive switching by the Thunder. In Game 3, look for Reaves, the No. 2 option for JJ Redick's offense, to attempt more threes. If he plashes at least twice, my $100 wager will be worth $255, including my stake.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Record 45+ Points+Rebounds+Assists (+195)

The presumptive NBA Most Valuable Player and reigning MVP has been more of a decoy in this series than a threat. The Lakers have double-teamed SGA as much as possible, but abandoned that strategy midway through the third quarter in Game 2.

Game 3 could be the time for Gilgeous-Alexander to flex his superstar muscles and fill up the stats sheet. If he can manage 45+ in PRA (Points, Rebounds, Assists) our $100 bet will win $195.

SGA managed 45 or more in PRA in 24 of his 68 games in 2025-26, or roughly one-third of his starts.

Saturday Odds & Prediction: Thunder vs. Lakers

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5 (-110) | Los Angeles Lakers +8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -380 | Los Angeles Lakers +300
• Total: O/U 211.5 (-110/-110)

Odds via bet365

The Thunder are +163 against the Lakers in their last six meetings. That was when the Lakers had Luka Dončić, when they had LeBron and Austin Reaves both healthy. That was when the Lakers had Jerry West and Kareem Abudl-Jabbar. Well, maybe not those last two guys. But you wonder.

OKC and its genius front office marvel Sam Presti are playing chess while most of the rest of the league is playing checkers. The Lakers without Luka are playing Connect Four.

And speaking of four: that's how long this series will last. As in a four-game sweep. Tonight, the Thunder will do what they did in Games 1 and 2: breeze along for three quarters until it matters, and storm ahead to win.

• Oklahoma City 120, Los Angeles Lakers 108